Phonograph



w. s; FRIDELL v2,075,981

PHONOGRAPH April 6, 1937.

Filed Jan. 2, 1932 BY HDW? ATTQNEY Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED stares k reisen PATENT OFFICE PHONOGRAPH Application January 2, 1932, Serial No. 584,373

17 Claims.

This invention relates to phonographs, and is more particularly directed to improvements in sound record supports or mandrels for phonographs designed to operate with cylindrical records o-r tablets.

Ordinarily, cylindrical phonograph records or tablets are provided with tapered bores, but the diameters of the bores of different records, as manufactured, vary somewhat and also change to a considerable extent under diierent temperature conditions to which the records are subjected, whereas the supports upon which the records are usually mounted in phonographs vary and change but little in diameter.

In phonographs used for recording and reproducing dictation, it is very important, in transcribing, that the record tablet should occupy the same relative longitudinal position with respect to its support, and the scale usually associated therewith, as it did when dictating, in order that the transcriber may quickly and correctly associate the instructions, which the dictator usually indicates on a memorandum slip having a scale corresponding to the scale on the phonograph, with the proper part of the dictated record so as to experience no diificulty in carrying out such instructions and making a transcription of the record. Because of the variance in and changing of the diameters of the record bores, hereinbefore mentioned, and to meet the requirements just stated, record supports as constructed in the past, have been rather complicated and have required a certain amount of manipulation when records were applied thereto, as well as manipulation upon removal of records therefrom.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved support for cylindrical sound records which, while adapted to firmly hold a record, will permit the latter to be readily pushed thereon to a predetermined relative longitudinal position without special effort or manipulation of the support. In conformity with this object, I provide a support preferably having record engaging means or elements which are movable radially with respect to the axis of the support and which, when a record is not applied to the support in proper operative position, are normally retracted in respect to said axis.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a record support, automatic record ejecting mechanism in which the operating force results from the release of energy stored in said mechanism upon movement of a record to proper operative position upon the support.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a support such as described, a device which is operable to effect the release of a record from the support and which, when operated, will also effect the storing of energy adapted to be utilized to actuate the record centralizing and retaining means when a record is subsequently moved to its full operative position axially of the support.

Other objects and features of my invention will appear more fully in the following description and appended claims.

For a clearer understanding of my invention,

attention is directed to the drawing which accompanies and forms part of this specication and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view, with*25 parts in elevation, of a conventional form of commercial phonograph havingv a preferred form of my improved record support applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View, partly broken away, taken substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. 4. 30

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

-Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5-5 35 of Fig. 2.

Fig. Gis a. fragmentary View showing the positions of certain of the parts after a record has been ejected from the support.

The phonograph to which my invention is shown applied in Fig. 1 is of Well known construction and comprises a bed plate I provided with standards 2 and 3. Supported at one end in the standard 3 is a sleeve 4 secured rigidly in fixed position by a set screw 5. The drivingv shaft S for the phonograph is mounted to extend through the sleeve 4, the left hand end of said shaft (Fig, 1) being rotatable within a bearing 1 in the corresponding end of the sleeve. A

knurled nut 8 secured to the right hand end of 50 shaft 6, as shown in Fig. l, engages and co-operates with the corresponding end I0 of a hollow shaft 9, which end' I0 engages the end of sleeve d, to prevent the shaft 6 from shifting longitudinally with reference to said sleeve.

Power is transmitted to the driving shaft of the phonograph by means of a belt, not shown, encircling a pulley II rotatable on a stud shaftv I2 which is secured in the standard 2 by a set screw I2. Any means may be provided to prevent lateral movement of the pulley II, in this instance a set screw II fitting in an annular groove in the shaft II is employed. The shaft I2 is axially in line with shaft 6, to which it is adapted to be connected by a clutch I5 one member of which is slidable back and forth upon the enlarged portion 6' of the shaft 6. A gear I6 is secured to the shaft portion 6' and from this gear, by connections not shown, the feed screw 7 of the phonograph is driven in the usual manner.

My improved record support or mandrel comprises the hereinbefore mentioned tubular shaft 9 which is rotatably mounted upon the sleeve 4 by means of its bearing portions I3 and I4. The right hand end IIl of shaft 9 is slotted to receive a pin I1 carried by the drive shaft 6, and thus rotation of the shaft 6 is imparted to the Shaft 9. Referring particularly to Fig. 1, 2U represents a disc provided with a collar 2| adapted to receive a set screw 22 for securing the disc to the shaft 9. Suitably secured to disc 29, as by screws shown in Fig. 2, is a hollow substantially cylindrical slightly tapered shell 24 extending practically over the full length of shaft 9 and adapted easily to receive thereover and to guide to proper operative position, a record being applied to the support. The shell 24 has an outer end wall 25 adapted to maintain the shell concentric with the shaft 9. Shell 24 is provided with three long narrow and equi-angularly spaced slots 26 extending longitudinally thereof. Three record engaging members or rods 21 which comprise parts of the mandrel or record support, are mounted within the shell 24 and are journaled in suitable bearings provided in disc 20 and the end wall 25. These members 21 are respectively adjacent slots 26 and are provided with eccentric mid-sections 28 which are adapted to be moved outwardly through the slots 26 in shell 24 for engagement with the bore of a record.

The eccentric portions 28 may be provided with suitable serrations 29 so as to more firmly grip the record and prevent longitudinal movement thereof on the shell 24. Rods 21 are adapted, when turned to a certain position in their bearings, to present their eccentric portions 28 to the bore of a record mounted on the mandrel, while when said rods are returned to their normal position, the portions 28 will be retracted wholly within the shell 24 so as to permit records to be readily slipped or moved onto the shell as well as to be readily removed therefrom. It may be now stated that rotary movements given the rods 21 in either direction will be equal and will take place simultaneously. Accordingly if these rods are turned to move their portions 28 outwardly, with a record on the support, such record will be automatically centralized and also firmly held thereby against longitudinal movement. The mechanism for i-mparting angular movement to members 21 will now be described.

Angular arms 3U are respectively suitably secured to the right hand end of rods 21. These arms are adjacent the end wall 25 of shell 24, and when the rods 21 are in normal position, are located as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. Whenthe arms 38 are so positioned, they lie wholly within the shell 24 with their outer edges substantially flush therewith. Shoulders 3| provided on arms 30, then engage the shell and coact therewith to prevent rods 21 from turning in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3). Inwardly extending portions 38 of arms 39 carry pins 33 which respectively engage slots 32 provided in a collar 34 on a bushing 35. The collar 34 has a shoulder 36, Fig. 1, secured telescopically within a rotatable tubular member 38 which extends toward the left hand or larger end of the shell 24. The member 38 is rotatably mounted on sleeve 9 and extends a considerable distance toward the left. A screw 33 secured to sleeve 9 coacts with member 38 at one end and the collar 34 coacts with arms 30 adjacent the other end of said member to prevent longitudinal movement of the latter on shaft 9.

The shaft 9 extends outwardly some distance beyond the smaller end of shell 24 and has slidably mounted thereon an actuating sleeve 40 (Figs. 1 and 2) provided with a knob 4I removably secured thereto. A pin or screw 42 on shaft 9 co-operates with a slot 43, provided in sleeve 40, to limit the longitudinal movement of the sleeve on the shaft, and also to prevent relative angular movement thereof. The sleeve 40 extends inwardly through bushing 35 into the tubular member 38 and is provided at its inner end with a collar 44 which fits loosely in the bore of member 38. The sleeve 40 has three helical cam slots 45 which are respectively slidably en- Disposed between an annular flange 38 at the 5 inner end of member 38 and the collar 44, is a comparatively heavy coil spring 48 which tends to maintain the sleeve 40 in its outermost position and therefore the member 38 in a certain angular position with reference to the rotatable mandrel shaft 9.

'Ihe construction and arrangement of the parts just described are such that when the operating sleeve 40 is moved to the left or in an inward direction, against the action of spring 48, it will, by co-action of the cam slots 45 with pins 46 effect angular movement of collar 34. At the same time the slots 32 in collar 34 will coact with pins 33 of arms 38 and effect angular movement of the record engaging rods or members 21 to their ref tracted or releasing positions. Similarly, when the spring 48 is permitted to move sleeve 48 outwardly, the collar 34 will be turned in a reverse direction, or in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, and thereby impart angular movement to the rods 21, in a direction opposite to that described above, to their expanded or record engaging positions, shown in Fig. 4.

Slidably mounted upon the shaft 9, near its left hand end, is a cup-shaped member 50 (Figs. i and 2) having a long bearing portion 5I extending toward the tubular member 38. A narrow extension or tongue 52 of the bearing portion 5I is adapted to co-operate with the adjacent end of member 38. Member 59 is held against angular movement in respect to shaft 9 by a pin and slot connection 53, which also limits the longitudinal movement of said member on the shaft. A spring v54 is interposed between the bottom of the cup member 53 and the adjacent inner end of the disc 20 and serves to constantly urge the member 58 to the right, to the position shown in Fig. 1. 'Ihe tongue 52 is adapted to co-operate alternatively with a similar tongue and an opening 56 with which the inner end Vmember 58 is connected to the inner annular portion 51 only by means of spider arms 58. Longitudinal openings 88 (Fig. 2) are provided in shell 24, through which the arms 59 respectively Y extend. The arms 59 and slots 60 co-operate to Y member 38.

prevent relative angular movement of the ejecting member and the shell 24, but permit said member to move freely lengthwise of the shell.

The operation may be briefly described as follows:

The support as shown in Fig. 1 is in collapsed condition. The eccentric sections 28 of the record engaging members 21 will then be in retracted position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the record ejecting member 58 and member 58 will be at the limit of their movement to the right with the tongue 52 of the latter'member engaging the opening 58 in the adjacent end of Spring 48 is now compressed and operating member 4G is at or adjacent its innermost position. The spring 48 urges member 45 outwardly-but outward movement of the'latter cannot occur without angular movement of member 38 induced by the coaction of pins 48 of the collar 34 secured to the latter member, with the cam slots 45 in the operating member. Member 38 is, however, locked against angular movement by reason of the engagement of the opening 56 in its left hand end by the tongue 52 of member 55, and consequently operating member is held in the position shown in Fig. 1, against outward movement.

If a record A is now applied to the mandrel and pushed toward the larger end thereof it engages the ej ecting member 58. Further movement of the record in the same direction effects movement of members 58 and 58 to the left andcompresses the spring 54. At the same time the tongue 52 is withdrawn from the opening 55 in the rotatable tubular member 38. When member 58 has thus been moved to the left substantially to its extreme position (limited by the engagement of arms 59 with the disc 20), member 55 is brought toa position wherein its tongue 52 clears the tongue 55 of member 38 and the latter is free to rotate. Spring 48 then moves member 40 outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 and the latter in such outward movement, through the coaction of its cam slots with pins 45, turns collar 34 and member 38. Collar 34 in its turning movement, by reason of the coaction of the slots 32 therein with pins 33, effects pivotal movement of the record engaging members 21 and the arms 30 to their outermost or operative positions, as shown in Figs 2 and 4. The record A is now rmly held in operative position on the mandrel or support (both longitudinally and concentrically thereof) by the serrated portions 23 of the record engaging members 21, and the record ejecting member 58 and the cup-shaped member are held against movement to the right under the action of spring 54 (which is now compressed) by the engagement of the opposed ends of the tongues 52 and 55, which, as shown in Fig. 2, are now substantially in alignment.

When it is desired to remove the record from the support, the operator applies pressure to the knob 4l of the operating member 40. This causes the operating member to move toward the left thereby compressing spring 4B and positively rotating member 38 in a direction reverse to that which resulted from the operation of applying the record to the mandrel. Such rotation of member 38 effects the retraction of the members 21 from record engaging position and leaves the record free on the support. The construction is such that after the members 21 have been thus retracted, the tongue 55 is moved clear of tongue 52. Thereupon spring 54, by reason of the energy stored therein during the applicati-on of the record to the support, immediately moves member 50 and thereby member 58 to the right and thus automatically ejects the record from thesupport. The extent to which the record is thus ejected may be regulated,

as desired, by using a spring 54 of proper strength.Y

After the record is thus ejected the parts are again in the position originally described, shown in Fig. 1, and the support is ready for the reception of another record;

In case the support or mandrel is accidentally or otherwise operated to effect the expansion of the record engaging members 21, without a record being applied to the support, the arms 30 are moved to their outermost positions (shown in Fig. 4). It will then be impossible to apply a record to the support until the latter is again conditioned for the reception of the record by so actuating the member 40 as to restore the parts to the position shown in Fig. 1.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the same is subject to many changes and modifications without departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A support for cylindrical records comprising a plurality of record engaging members extending longitudinally of the support and equi-spaced angularly in respect of its axis, said members each being pivotally mounted for movement to and from operative record-engaging position about an axis which is eccentric to the axis of the support longitudinally of the support and equi-spaced angularly in respect of its axis, said members each being pivotally mounted for movement to and from operative record-engaging position about an axis which is eccentric to the axis of the support and which extends longitudinally of the support,

. and means for moving said members simultaneously and equally to such position.

3. A support for cylindrical records comprising a movable record ej ecting device, and energy storing means for actuating said device to eject a record, said device being operable to effect the storing of energy in said actuating means by a record in the application thereof to the support.

4. A support for cylindrical records comprising a movable record ejecting device, means comprising a spring for actuating said device to eject a record, and means movable to effect the storing of energy in said spring, said latter means being operable by a record in the application thereof to the support.

5. A support for cylindrical records comprising movable record holding means, a movable record ejecting device, energy storing actuating meansr means thereafter rendered operable by said record in such movement thereof to move said holding means to operative position.

6. A support for cylindrical records comprising movable re'cord holding means, a movable record ejecting device, energy storing actuating means for said device, means actuated by a record in the movement thereof onto the support to effect the storing of energy in said actuating means, and means thereafter rendered operable by said record in such movement thereof to move said holding means to operative position and to hold said ejecting device inoperative.

7. In a support of the class described, movable record holding means, movable record ejecting means, a manually operable member for con- Y trolling the action of said ejecting means, energy storing means adapted upon and by reason of energy being stored therein to actuate said record holding means, and means for eifecting the storing of energy in said energy storing means by actuation of said manually operable member.

8. In a support for cylindrical records, movable record holding means, a record ejector, said ejector being movable to a predetermined position by a record in the application of the latter to operative position on the support and being biased to a position removed from such predetermined position, the ejector being adapted to eject the record upon movement from said predetermined position, means for automatically locking said ejector in said predetermined position, an operating member, means actuatable by said operating member for releasing said locking means, and means for moving said record holding means to operative position including a device in which energy is stored by said operating member when actuated to release said locking means.

9. A support for cylindrical records comprising record holding means movable to and from operative position, a member movable angularly to eifect movement of said means to inoperative position, and means for automatically locking said holding means in inoperative position.

l0. A support for cylindrical records comprising record holding means movable to and from operative position, record ejecting means, a member movable angularly to effect movement of said record holding means to inoperative position, and means cooperative with said record ejecting means for automatically locking said record holding means in inoperative position.

11. A support for cylindrical records comprising record holding means movable to and from operative position, movable record ejecting means, and means operable to control the movement of said record holding means, said ejecting means and control means having means which coact to releasably lock said ejecting means against operation when the record holding means are in operative position.

12. In a support for cylindrical records designed for sequential operations to receive and hold a record thereon and to release and eject a record therefrom, movable record holding means, movable record ejecting means, and coacting operating means for said record holding means and said ejecting means comprising two devices which alternatively and sequentially store and release energy during one operation of the support and release and store energy on the subsequent operation of the support.

13. In a support for cylindrical records, record holding means movable to and from operative position, movable record ejecting means, and means for supplying energy to cause movement of said ejecting means to eject a record, said energy supplying means including a device in Which energy is stored only upon movement of said holding means to operative position.

14. In a support for 'cylindrical records, record holding means movable to and from operative' position, a record ejecting device movable with respect to said holding means to eject a record from the support, and means associated with said device for controlling movement of said holding means.

15. A rotatable support for cylindrical records comprising record holding means, said means being immovable longitudinally of the support, and a record ejecting device applied to said support and movable relatively to said holding means to and from active and inactive positions, said device being biased to inactive position and being disposed in the path of movement of a record to operative position on the support Whereby such device will invariably be disposed in a predetermined active position Whenever any record for which the support is designed is in proper operative position on the support.

16. In a device of the class described, a record support, a movable record ejecting device associated with said support, and means for moving said device relatively to the support to eject a record including an energy storing device, said ejecting device being movable to active position and said energy storing device being actuated to store energy therein by a record upon movement of the latter to operative position on the support.

17. A support for cylindrical records comprising a spring-pressed record holding device, a spring-pressed record ejecting device, and means associated with said devices for holding the same alternatively in given positions against the action of the springs associated therewith.

WILLIS S. FRIDELL. 

